Bernstein Finishes NCAA Wrestling Championship in Eighth Place

Mar 22, 2014

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – Twelfth-seeded junior All-American wrestler Ophir Bernstein (Allen, Texas) finished in eighth place in the 184-pound weight class after falling 6-1 against sixth-seeded Jacob Swartz of Boise State at the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships at Chesapeake Energy Arena on Saturday. Bernstein became the fourth All-American in Brown wrestling history and the first since Tivon Abel in 1998 when he went 1-2 yesterday. He finishes the season with 36 wins, just one win shy of the Brown single season record set by Steve Thoma in 1991-92.

Swartz earned the only points of the first period on a takedown, spinning behind Bernstein to take a 2-0 lead. Bernstein battled Swartz's early underhook to a stalemate and then got in tight with scissors across the body, only to be met with a whistle and reset that led to a Swartz takedown. The Boise State All-American secured a tight armbar and Bernstein struggled to elevate his hips, leading to lots of riding time for Swartz and a late stalling call.

Bernstein chose the bottom to start the second and separated the hands for an escape to make the score 2-1. He followed with a low single that Swartz blocked and countered with another spinning takedown similar to his first period shot. Swartz laid a knee into Bernstein's forearm and looked for the tilt, cashing in on a point from a stalling call to lead 5-1 after two periods. A neutral start to the third period allowed Swartz to wrestle conservatively and use his riding time for a final point in the 6-1 decision.

Bernstein completes the season with a 36-11 record, while first-year Head Coach Todd Beckerman mentored an All-American in his inaugural season at the helm of the Bears.